Method of and means for preparing negative reproductions for photoengraving or etching processes



gli@ 55, 'QL s, Q CRANE METHOD 0F AND MEANS FOR PREPARING NEGATIVE REPRODUCTEONS vFOR PHOTOENGRAVING 0R ETCHING PROCESSES y Filed June 9, 1959 4 Sheeis-sm' l NIMH! INVENTOR. Davo@ CE /NE ATTORNEY.

S S N t 0 9 T. e ,T .n C S A.

D. CRAINE METHOD oF PREPARIHG NEGATIVE REPR FOR PHOTOENGRAVING on ETCHING rnocfzsss Filed June 9. 1959 mi; y

50m/0K5 Cem/vf:

' ATTORNEY.

QHENE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PREPARING NEGATIVE BEPRODUCT my EES,

FOR PHOTOENGRAVING OR ETCHING PROCESSES Filed Jun@ 9, 1959 Sllezaw'heae'.

1NVENTOR, S. DEL/ORE Cl/MN5 {55m/M @Q07 ATTORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4;

mlm

1 f July 15, WIM. a D. CRMNE METHOD 0E AND MEANS EOE PEEPARING NEGATIVE EEPEODUGTIONS EOE PHOTOENGEAVING 0R ETCEING PROCESSES Filed June 9, 1959 TTQMCL HIIIIIHIIll TIELZCL lNvENTOR. DEVOEE CRA/NE 'YJML/ L27/7 ATTQRNEEt Patented July 15, 1941 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PREPARING NEGATIVE REPRODUCTIONS FOR PHOTO- ENGRAVING OR ETCHING PROCESSES Sulby Devore Craine, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Application June 9,1939, Serial No. 278,252

(Cl. lill-426) 17 Claims.

The invention relates generally to the preparation of negative reproductions for photoengraving or etching processes, and more particularly to the increase in sharpness of letter definition in the final product, thereby reducing' the final touching up step to a minimum or eliminating such step altogether; to the utilization of a single character of type to obtain on the prepared plate, final wide, normal, or narrow impressions or nal backslant, upright or italic impressions, and to the variation in proportion of an entire box of printed matter to justify it as to line length or column length to fit it into the allotted space for which it is intended. l

It is an important object of the invention to provide a method of and means for conditioning an expansible surface by stretching it preparatory to the positive impression of printed matter thereon, this stretching being accomplished in such a manner that distortion of the printed matter does not occur upon its being contracted preparatory to the photographing thereof to obtain the negative reproduction whether the latter be a transparency or not.

Heretofore, in order to justify a box or group of print to conform it to the size of the space for which it is intended, it has been the practice to either set up the entire layout by freehand,

Awhich method is slow and costly in that the services of an expert artist are required, or to cut up the positive impression on the stripping negative or on an opaque negative into individual words or letters and reassemble them into proper column width and length. The latter cutting and rearranging method is less costly than the former freehand method but is also slow, and furthermore, the sharpness of the definition of the letters is lost when the positive impression is cut up since it is then necessary to again photograph the reassembled layout.

Another difficulty encountered in the past has been that a different set of type has been necessary to obtain Wide, normal, narrow, backslant, upright, or italics, or different degrees or different combinations thereof in a given style of type.

Here again, if the character of type desired is notl available, the services of an expert artist have been required. Generally speaking, the above disadvantages have made the services of an expert artist invariably necessary in high class advertising due to the high degree of perfection and letter sharpness demanded in that work.

To the end that the above difficulties may be obviated, and as an important object of my invention, I provide herein a medium upon which the initial positiveimpression may be made, this medium being expansible and being adapted to be expanded or stretched prior to the printing operation so that after the printing and prior to being photographed it may be contracted to intensify all ink impressions thereon and to justify allsuch impressions to column dimensions or tov the character of type desired.

The expansible medium disclosed in the present instance is a thin sheet of rubber, this sheet being adapted to be expanded and contracted as above described.

It is found that when a rectangular sheet of rubber is anchored along opposed edges and then these edges are moved apart to stretch the sheet, that the remaining sides bow inwardly toward one another and toward the center of the sheet. Consequently if this bowing condition exists during the stretching and printing operations above described, considerable distortion, particularly bulging, of the positive impression occurs after the sheet is released to its contracted'condition for photographing. Therefore, a more particular object of the invention is'to provide meanswhich stretches the expansible sheet and at the same time maintains its natural configuration so that all sides remain in their original parallel relationship throughout the stretching movement and during the initial printing operation.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to form a rubber sheet into an endless belt or band and to mount this band about a plurality of parallel rollers, the latter being rotatably secured in a primary frame, the latter frame being mounted in a secondary or manipulating frame.

Other objects and advantages of by invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the entire, -assembled frame mechanism with the rubber belt removed; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with a portion broken away for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the printing frame;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-.4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a photographing mechanism with the primary and secondary frames and belt mounted in readiness to make the negative transparency;

Fig. 6a is a broken enlarged cross section taken on the line Gaf-6a of Fig 6;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the primary and printing frames with the belt mounted thereon in readiness to be placed in the press preparatory to the initial printing operation;

Fig. 8 is a cross section through a press showing the frame structure oi Fig. 7 with the rubber belt, mounted in readiness to receive the initial positive impression;

Fig. 9 is aplan view of the primary, belt mounting frame showing the rubber in stretched condition immediately after the initial positive impression has been made and before the contracting manipulation has taken place;

Fig. l is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9 after the rubber sheet has been contracted preparatory to the taking of the photograph;

Figs. l1 and 1lb show the manner of printing on the belt to obtain justification of line length when the belt is contracted;

Figs. i12/.z and 12b show the manner oi printing on the belt to obtain justication of column length when the belt is contracted;

Fig. 13a shows a sheet o1 rubber which has been stretched Without utilizing the present invention and on which the initial positive impression has been made;

Fig. i322 shows the sheet of Fig. 13a after it has been manipulated into contracted position, and further shows the distortion of the printed matter; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective partial view of the mechanism showing a rubber belt suitable for practicing my invention with the mechanism described herein.

It is to be understood that the preferred embodiment of the invention shown herein is for illustrative purposes only, that changes and modications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims, and that the specific control mechanism for manpulatingthe medium upon which the print is impressed may take forms varying from that shown.

The illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings comprises generally four major parts, a rubber belt or band (see Figs. 7 and 14); a primary belt mounting frame 2l (see Figs. l and 7) a secondary, manipulating frame 22 (see Fig. l) and a printing frame 23 (see Fig. 3)

Printing on a sheet of rubber is Well known in the offset printing processes; however, with such use the rubber is in a single sheet and is merely xed taut over a printing base so that no wrinkles The impression is then made and afterward transferred from the rubber to some other medium. However, I `believe that I am the rst to contemplate the use of rubber in 1such a manner that the initial positive impression is made thereon while the rubber is in a stretched condition and then the impression changed, particularly contracted, in dimension, after the initial printing and prior to the photographing step whereby line or column justifying variations in character or" the printing and intensication of the letter outline is obtained while at the same time abnormal distortions in the rubber are obtained.

The above mentioned change is accomplished herein, as above stated, by stretching and contracting the rubber surface upon which the initial positive impression is made. .However, if mere stretching and contracting is utilized it has been found that the method is not available for the 'use here contemplated because oi the inherent characteristic of the rubber sheet to become distorted along lines parallel to the direction of stretch.

By a comparison of Figs. 13a and 11a this lnherent diiculty will be seen. In Fig. 13a, 24 and 25 represent any suitable gripping or anchoring elements for the rubber sheet element 20a.

When the opposed end edges of the sheet are securely anchored in elements 24 and 25 and the latter are drawn apart, it will be found that the shape of the sheet is considerably distorted from its original form. Specically, the side edges assume an inwardly bowed form. I have found that when. a sheet of rubber or other elastic material is stretched in one direction, its tendency is to contract to a certain degree across its dimension perpendicular to the lines of stretch. This being the case and the end edges being gripped securely by members 24 and 25, this contracting action takes place at the intermediate portions of the sheet but not at the ends. Consequently the distorted form in Fig. 13a results from the stretching operation. It then, printed matter is impressed upon a sheet having the distorted form shown in Fig. 13a, the printed matter will assume the bulged proportions shown in Fig. 13b upon contraction of the sheet due to the non-uniform, transverse expansion throughout the length of the sheet.

In order that the above difficulty may be overcome and to the end that the sheet may be stretched without distorting it from its original proportions, some means must be provided for mounting the ends of the sheets so that during the stretching operation, the opposed edges which are anchored to or engage the mounting or stretching means may contract or expand laterally with respect to said means along with contraction of the intermediate length of the sheet whereby transverse compensating movement thereof is afforded so that the side edges remain in true parallelism to one another and at right angles to the edges by which the sheet is stretched. I have found that a very convenient and efficient manner for obtaining this adjustment of the portions of the belt which engage the stretching means is to mount it upon parallel, relatively separable, substantially synchronously rotatable roller members.

In the present embodiment this means is the primary frame 2l which includes side elements 26, each having telescoping portions 21 at one end and having rollers 28 and 29 rotatably mounted at each end by means of trunnions 30 and 3i respectively. While a pair of rollers is shown in the present embodiment, it is to be understood that more than two may be used ii necessary or desirable. The roller 29 idles while that designated as 28 has a crank assembly shown generally at 32 associated with one end thereof to engage with one of the trunnions 3l. The de tails of this crank assembly and its operation will be described presently.

The secondary frame 22 may be constructed from any suitable materials but is shown herein as having sides 33 and ends 34 formed from lengths of channel iron, the fianges 33a and No respectively of which extend upwardly as the dcvice is viewed in Fig. 1. Thest sides and ends are secured together in any suitable manner, for instance, as by rivets 35 and angle braces 3b'.

To the end that the primary frame 2l may be mounted within the secondary frame 22 in such s manner that the telescoping portions of the former may be manipulated back and :forth to provide relative movement between the rollers 2F! and 29, there is provided herein a beam element 31 which extends transversely of the secondary frame 22 and travels with its ends abutting the inner surfaces of the opposed fianges 33a in sliding relationship. Consequently it will be seen that this beam may be slid longitudinally of the secondary frame with the aforementioned flanges acting as guides therefor. In Fig. 4 a cross seclongitudinally of 'the secondary manipulating frame 22 and will` retain a true transverse alignment with the frame structure. It will also be seen that because of the engagement between the pins 38 and 39 and the ends of the telescoping slide elements 26 and 21 of the primary frame 2|, the rollers 28 and 29 will travel toward or away from one another depending upon the direction tion of this beam is shown and it will be seen that it has thick extremities and a drop center portion. It is in this drop center portion that the extremities of the telescoping portions 21 of the frame 2| are mounted. For this purpose pins 38 are provided, these pins being adapted to extend through corresponding apertures in the ends of the telescoping members 21. Similar pinsv 39 are secured to the remote end piece 34 of the frame 22, these pins being adapted to engage in corresponding apertures in the ends of the elements 26 of the frame 2|. It will be understood that the pins 39, being secured to the frame proper, will be immovable relative to the frame assembly, while the pins 38 being secured to the beam 31 will be movable longitudinally of the frame 22. Consequently, relative movement be-` tween-the rollers 28 and 29 is provided. In operation, the crank assembly 32' may be actuated either during or after the relative movement between rollers 28 and 29.

Any convenient mechanism may be associated with the frames 2| and 22 for providing movement of the beam 31 relative to the frame 22 in order that relative separation of the rollers 28 and 29 may be accomplished. In the present embodiment this means includes a pair of coacting worms 40 and 40a. These worms extend through threaded apertures 4| and 4|a located in the enlarged end portions of the beamy 31 (see Fig. 4) whereby the latter is moved longitudinally a of the frame 22 upon rotation of the worms. To the end that the worms may bev rotatably anchored to the frame 22, blocks 42 are secured as by rivets 43 intermediate thel ends of the re-v spective side elements 33. The ends of the worms 40 and 40a adjacent the blocks 42 are rotatably secured thereto in any suitable manner so that during rotation they turn upon a fixed axis, the connecting means including in the present instance a pair of abutting elements 44 and 45, the former being secured to the respective block 42 while the latter is secured to the end of the worm and is in turn rotatably secured to the respective member 44. The remote ends of the worms 40 and 40a extend through suitable aligned apertures in the flanges 34a of the adjacent end piece 34 and are secured against free longitudinal movement by collars 46 and 46a, there being a bevel gear 41 secured to the extreme end of each of the worms. A crank assembly 48 is provided for imparting simultaneous rotation to the worms 40 and 40a. This assembly includes a crank arm 49 mounted at one end of aspindle 50, the latter extending through an aperture in the flange 33a of one of the side elements 33 and having itsother end rotatably secured in an aligning element mounted on the inner surface in which the crank arm 49 is turned.

As will be seen in Figs. 9 and 10, and as will be described more fully presently, the apparatus when prepared for use has a rubber belt such as that shown in Fig. 14 mounted around the rollers 28 and 29. yln order that this mounting of the rubber. belt may be accomplished, it is necessary that the primary frame 2| be temporarily removed from the pins 38 and 39. As previously stated, the crank assembly 32 is associated with one of the trunnions 3| whereby the roller 28 may be rotated. Consequently some means must be provided for the disengagement of the crank assembly and its respective trunnion in order to facilitate the aforementioned removal of the primaryV frame. To this end the crank assembly 32 includes a crank arm 54 mounted at the outer extremity of a spindle 55 which extends through a suitable aperture in the flange 33a of one of the side elements 33 of the secondary manipulating frame, this handle being held against transverse movement in any suitable manner as by collars 56 and 56a. A sleeve element 51 is mounted over the end of the spindle 55 in slidable relation therewith and is provided with a slot 58 through which a pin 59 secured in the end of the spindle 55 extends.' The end of the sleeve 51 remote from the end of the spindle 55 is provided with a recess which is shaped to conform to the cross section conguration of the of the other of said flanges 33a. This spindle 49 tate with the result that the beam 31 will travel respective trunnion 3| and is urged into engagement with the trunnion by means of an expansion spring 60 which is also mounted on the spindle and has one end bearing against the collar 56 and the other end bearing against the adjacent end surface of the sleeve. It Will be seen that with this mechanism in order to disengage the crank assembly from the trunnion 3| to permit removal of frame 2| from frame 22, it is merely necessary to grasp the sleeve 51 and move it outwardly against the spring pressure until the end of the trunnion and the recess in the sleeve are free of one another, whereupon the entire frame 2| with the rollers 28 and 29 may be removed from engagement with the pins 38 and '39. It is to be understood that the roller 29 may be moved toward its extreme inner position beyond that shown in Fig. 10, that is, toward the roller 28, to facilitate the mounting of the rubber belt.

The printing frame 23 is completely removed 4from the primary frame 2|, as shown in Fig. 9,

until after the belt 28 is mounted and stretched thereon, at which time it is fitted as shown in Fig. 1 so that the outer surfaces of the side elementsl thereof abut the inner surface of the side elements 26 of the primary frame. To the end that the printing frame may be secured in the position shown in Fig. l, theend portions` 62 thereof are drilled, while the side elements 26 of the frame 2| are correspondingly drilled so that when the printing frame is placed in position the corresponding bores of the elements 26 and of the printing frame will receive elongated'pins 53 and 63a, the latter being adapted to secure the printing frame in position and to secure side elements 26 and the elements 21 in their expanded relationship so that the frame 2| may be completely removedfrom the frame 22 for the printing operation without the occurence of relative movement between the respective elements 26 and 2l toward one another under the belt tension. In order that the frame will not be-distorted obliquely there are brace elements 2|a secured transversely of the frame 2|.

By reference to Fig. 8 the purpose of the printi ing frame 23 will be clearly understood. As the belt 20 is placed around the rollers 28 and 29 the two surfaces thereof normally assume a parallel, parted relationship. Consequently each side is without the proper backing required for the printing operation and if the frame 2| were placed in the press the flexing of the rubber sheet upon which the positive printing was being im pressed, would blur and distort the impression. However, 'c' en the printing irai-ne is ole in the position shown in Fl s. l i? it se that the tion is prepared si. the correspond-- ting by being e sed ing portion ci the ober side o t'.e rubber beit due to the engagement of the rollers 23m-23a the adjacent sheet of rubber. Conseduently when the bed '6 together with the type i3d, and the block Si? approach one another the type face will not meet the rubber surface prior to its abutment with the block 56; thus flexing or slippage of the rubber is avoided and the type face does not engage the surface to be printed until substantially the plane o the block 6B is reached. As will also be seen in Fig. 8, before the bed te and the block E are brought together, it is desirable that the surface of the belt upon which the positive impression is to be made be raised above the face of the type. This also is to obviate smudging and blurring. In the present instance this elevation of the printing frame` 23, primary frame 2l, and the beit 20 is accomplished by means of plungers Sl' (see also Figs. 3 and 5) which are mounted in the body of the printing frame and urged outwardly thereof by means oi springs S8. As will be seen from Fig, 8, these plungers protrude downwardly when 'the apparatus is in printing position in the press, and the strength of the springs 58 is sufficient to maintain frames 2| and 23 together with the band elevated-over the type face.

Having described a form of apparatus capable oi practicing my invention, the method of obtaining the above mentioned intensification of letter outline, justification ci line length and colvumn length, and variations in the angle of the letters, will now be explained.

It is to be understood that the size of the belt 2|! vis determined by the required area of the printing surface upon which the initial positive printed impressions are to be made.

Assuming that the rubber has not yet been mounted around the rollers on the primary frame, the operator first turns the handle 49 in order to move the beam 31 toward the center of the secondary frame 22. The sleeve 51 is then removed from its respective trunnion 3| and the primary frame 2| is lifted bodily o of the pins 38 and 39, it being understood that the printing frame 23 is not associated with the primary frame at this time. The telescopic end members 2l are then moved inwardly on the side elements 2i so that the rollers are close to one another, and so that the rubber belt may be placed about the rollers without being stretched to any great extent. The primary frame together with the belt mounted thereon is then placed in position by properly locating it on the pins Il and 10 and by withdrawing the sleeve 51 to permit the adjacent trunnion 3| to be properly aligned, and the sleeve is then released to engage the outer end of said trunnion. At this Itime the belt will be somewhat loosely mounted about the rollers and by operation of the crank 49 the worms are again operated to move the beam 3l toward its respective end of the secondary frame 22.

As previously stated, this latter operation alone merely stretches the rubber and provides no compensation for distortion, with the result that heretofore the rubber surfaces on each side of the rollers would assume the shape shown in Fig. 13a. However, I have found that this difculty may be overcome by the operation of the crank 54 which in turn rotates roller 28, which operation causes rotation of the belt 2C about rollers E and 23. Because oi' the stretching operation and because oi' the previously ei;- plained tend cy of the belt to contract across its transverse dimension, I have found that upon rotation of the rollers the ends of thhe belt which contact the rollers assume a transverse dimension equal to that dimension at the center or intermediate portion of the edges of the belt, and thus the belt in its stretched condition is in no way distorted but rather assumes the shape shown in Fig. 11a. Assuming that the rollers 28 and 28 were not provided, that the sheet assumed the shape shown in Fig. 13a, and that printed matter was then impressed upon its surface, this printed matter, when the sheet was again contracted, would assume a somewhat bulged condition shown in Fig. 13b instead of the form shown in Figs. 11b and 12b.

The operator, having mounted the frame 2| with the belt in the framev 22, having manipulated the handle 49 to stretch the rubber by separating the rollers 28 and 23, and having manipulated the handle 54 to turn the rubber to avoid distortion, now places the printing frame in the position shown in Fig, l, inserts the rods 63 andv 63a whereby the frames 2|- and 23 become a single unit, removes the frame 2| from the assembly as shown in Fig. 7, the extended relationship of members 26 and 2l being maintained by pin or rod 83a, and places it in its proper position upon the press as shown in Fig. 8, so that the portion or the surface of the rubber sheet 20 outlined by the printing frame 23 will have the initial, positive impression made thereon by direct contact with the inked type.

After the printing operation is completed, the operator takes the assembly shown in Fig. 7 and replaces it in the manipulating frame 22, which is in turn placed on a suitable support such as that designated generally at B8 in Fig. 6. The support I9 alsocarries suitable photographing mechanism 10, the lens of which is directed at the printed surface on the rubber sheet outlined by the printing frame. After having so mounted the frame 22 in the support k69, the operator then contracts the rubber sheet the desired amount to obtain the desired intensity of outline, congurations, and variations in type to be described presently. v

In order that the contracting and belt rotating manipulation may be accomplished easily after the assembly is mounted as shown in Fig. 6, a system of belts and pulleys may be provided so that the operator may view the ground glass in the camera. and at the same time control the action or the worms 4I and rollers 28 and 29.

This system includes (see Fig. 6a) a pulley 1| operators station. Suitable, paired guide pulleys 18 are mounted forwardly of the support 89 for guiding the belt 14 from pulley 15 to pulley 12.V Thus it will be seeny that by manipulation of the belt 14 in the vicinity of the operators station the rollers 28 and 29 may be made to rotate to eliminate distortion of the belt as previously described.

In order that relative movement between the rollers 28 and 29 may be accomplished from the camera operators station, a pulley 11 is iixedly mounted upon the spindle 58 while a belt 18 is mounted thereon and extends rearwardly of the support 69 and around a pulley 19 suitably, rotatably mounted thereon. Thus it will be seen that by manipulation of the belt 18 from the operators station, rotation of the worms 40 may be had to contract the belt 20.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the manipulations to contract the belt and to rotate the same to prevent distortion may bev accomplished from the camera operators station or from any point along the side of the support 69.

The belt 13 in addition to functioning to transmit remote operation when the frame assembly is mounted on the support 69, will also serve to ensure substantially synchronous rotation of rollers 28 and 29 so that uneven stretching forces will not exist throughout the length of the belt 20 due to the idling lag of the roller 21 when the crank arm 54 is operated.

Having described the apparatus and the method of operating the same, the results obtained by manipulation of the rubber belt will now be explained.

Referring rst to the line length justifying and column length justifying feature, it will be seen from Figs. 11a, and 11b that when a boxof print is impressed upon the belt while the latter is in its expanded conditionwith the lines running parallel-tol the line of stretch, the contracting action results in aV shortening of the lines, the degree of this shortening being controlled entirely by the degree of contraction. Furthermore, there is a slight expansion of column \length due to the fact, as previously explained, that during the stretching operation the transverse dimension is reduced slightly; therefore, upon contracting the belt there is a compensating transverse expansive action. In order that the operator may obtain a final column` of exact and accurate dimensions, this transverse change in di.

mension may be compensated for by the utilization of the lens in the camera. For instance, if a column of a certain height or length is desired, it may be printed to such height or lengthby the initial positive impression upon the stretched belt shown in Fig. lla. However, as previously explained, afterthe contracting action to the form shown in Fig. llb the column will be enlarged in height to a slight degree. Therefore, the operator, knowing of this condition, may manipulate the length of the belt to such a degree that the line length is slightly over the desired dimension. Consequently the impression upon the contracted rubber belt will be slightly greater in both line length and'column length or height, with the result that the proportion is correct and that it is merely necessary to reduce the impression upon the camera plate -by manipulation of the camera mechanism to maintain type of the proper proportions and obtain type of the proper size.

While the direction of the print as shown in Figs. 11a. and 1lb is concerned primarily with variations in line length, the direction shown in Figs. 12a and 12b, that is, with the lines running perpendicular to the line of stretch, is concerned primarily with column length. Here again,

- however, due to the slight transverse stretching and contracting action the line length will also be slightly affected and the aforementioned compensation manipulation with the camera mechanism may be used to obtain accuracy. In Fig.

, 12a the belt is in stretched condition and the type there represented diagrammatically is of normal size. However, upon the contracting manipulation it will be seen from Fig. 12b that the column length is considerably shortened.

It is to be understood, of course, that in both of the examples last discussed the intensification of letter outline results from the fact that the initial positive impression is made while the surface is stretched and the photograph is taken after that surface together with the print thereon is contracted. Furthermore, beyond the mere column and line justification the letters themselves are affected in that in the change from Fig. lla. to Fig. 1lb the letters become narrower and slightly longer, while in the change from Fig. 12a to Fig. 12b the letters become slightly wider and considerably shorter. The particular changes in the letters, however, will be more fully understood from the following.

The foregoing explanation regarding Figs. 11a., 11b, 12a, and 12b has been directed to justifying line length and column length generally, when a complete column of print is impressed upon the rubber sheet. It is to be noted, however, that in certain decorative or artistic advertising layouts my method and apparatus is available to change individual letters or Words from normal upright to wide or narrow upright, wide or narrow backslant or wide or narrow italics, Without the use of different type face to accomplish each of these 'changes in character. The manner, in which this may be done is clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. v

Referring iirst to Fig. 9, the letters indicated at 18 and 19 correspond, as to direction of printing upon the ysheet with respect to the line of stretch, to Figs. 12a and 11a respectively. The explanation of the results obtained by contracting the normal upright print of the latter figures applies likewise to the resultsobtained by contracting lthe letters at 18 and 19 as will be seen at 18a and 19a of Fig; l0, With the exception that in the case of Figs. 9 and 10 letter height backslant are obtained by the contraction of uprightprint impressed at angles other than parallel to or perpendicular to the lines X-Y.

fxedly mounted upon the-spindle 55 and a double pulley 12 rotatably mounted upon the spindle 50. A belt 13 extends between the pulley 1| and one section of the double pulley 12, while asecond belt 14 is mounted around the other section thereof and extends rearwardly of the support 69 and around a pulley 15 suitably, rotatably mounted thereon in the vicinityof the camera operators station. Suitable, paired guide pulleys 16 are mounted forwardly of the support 69 for guiding the belt 14 from pulley 15 to pulley 12. Thus it will be seenI that by manipulation of the belt 14 in the vicinity of the operators station the rollers 28 and 29 may be made to rotate to eliminate distortion of the belt 20 as previously described.

In order that relative movement between the rollers 28 and 29 may be accomplished from the camera operators station, a pulley 11 is ixedly mounted upon the spindle 50 while a belt 18 is mounted thereon and extends rearwardly of the support 69 and around a pulley 19 suitably, ro-

tatably mounted thereon. 'Ihus it will be seen that by manipulation of the belt 18 from the operators station, rotation of the worms 40 may be had to contract the belt 20. f

From the `foregoing it will be seen that the manipulations to contract the belt and to rotate the same to prevent distortion may be accomplished from the camera operators station -or by manipulation of the rubber belt will now be explained.

Referring first to the line length justifying and column length justifying feature, it will be seen from Figs. 11a and 11b that when a box of print is impressed upon the belt while the latter is in its expanded condition with the lines running parallel'to the line of stretch, the contracting action results in a shortening of vthe lines, the

degree of this shortening being controlled entire-v ly by the degree of contraction. Furthermore, there is a slight expansion of column length due to the fact, as previously explained, that during the stretching operation the transverse dimension is reduced slightly; therefore, upon contracting the belt there is a lcompensating transverse expansive action. In order that the operator may obtain a nal column of exact and accurate dimensions, this transverse change in dimension may be compensated for by the utilization of the lens in the camera. For instance, if a column of a certain height or length is desired, it may be printed to such height or length `by the initial positive impression upon the stretched belt shown in Fig. 11a. However, as previously explained, afterthe contracting action to the form shown in Fig. 11b the column will be enlarged in height to a slight degree. Therefore, the operator, knowing of this condition, may manipulate the length of the belt to such a degree that the line length is slightly over the desired dimension. Consequently the impression upon the contracted rubber belt will be slightly greater in both line length and column length or height, with the result that the proportion is correct and that it isy merely necessary to reduce the impression upon the camera plate by manipulation of the camera mechanism to maintain type of the proper proportions and obtain type ofthe proper size.

While the direction of the print as shown in Figs. 11a and l-lb is concerned'primarily with variations in line length, the direction shown in Figs. 12a and 12b, that is, with the lines running perpendicular to the line of stretch, is concerned primarily with column length. Here again,

\ however, due to the slight transverse stretching and contracting action the line length will also be slightly affected and the aforementioned compensation manipulation with the camera mechanism may be used to obtain accuracy. In Fig.

y, 12a the belt is in stretched condition and the type there represented diagrammatically is of normal size. However, upon the contracting manipulation it will be seen from Fig. 12b that the column length is considerably shortened.

It is to be understood, of course, that in both of the examples last discussed the intensification of letter outline results from the fact that the initial positive impression is made while the surface is stretched and the photograph is taken after that surface together With the print thereonis contracted. Furthermore, beyond the mere column and line justification the letters themselves are affected in that in the change from Fig. 11a to Fig. 1lb the letters become narrower and slightly longer, while in the change from Fig. 12a to Fig. 12b the letters become slightly wider and considerably shorter. The particular changes in the letters, however, will be more fully understood from the following.

The foregoing explanation regarding Figs. 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b has been directed to justifying line length and column length generally, when a complete column of print is impressed upon the rubber sheet. It is to be noted, however, that in certain decorative or artistic advertising layouts my method and apparatus is available to change individual letters or Words vfrom normal upright to wide or narrow upright, wide or narrow backslant or wide or narrow italics, Without the use of different type face to accomplish earch of these changes in character. The manner in which this may be done is clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10.`

Referring rst to Fig. 9, the letters indicated at 18 and 19 correspond, as to direction of printing upon the .sheet with respect to the line of stretch, to Figs. 12a and 11a respectively. The explanation of the results obtained by contracting the normal upright print of the latter gures rapplies likewise to the results obtained by contracting fthe letters at 18 and 19 as will be seen at 18a and 19a of Fig; 10, with the exception that in the case of Figs. 9 and 10 letter height takes the place of column length in the foregoing explanation, while letter Width takes the place of" line length. Furthermore, the correction of proportions and the manipulation of the camera to compensate for letter or word size may also be used in the case of individual words or letters.

Up to this point it will be seen that the only print discussed has been that which is printed on the sheet 20 either at right angles to or perpendicular to the line of stretch indicated as X-Y Eimmples of such angularity are shown at B0, 8l, 82, and 83 of Fig. 9 and it will be seen that in each case normal upright type is used.

After contacting the sheet as shown in Fig. l0, it will be found that the upright letters indicated at 8U and 8i have been transformed to backslant as shown at 80a and Bla of Fig. 10. On the other hand, the upright letters shown at 82 and 83 of Fig. 9 will, after contraction of the sheet, be transformed to italics as shown at 82o and 33a of Fig. 2.43.

Ei, by Way of explanation, it is assumed that ie lines X-Y, 4and X-Y represent the l80-0 diameter ci circles it will he seen that the ietters represented at 8D and 8i have base lines lying in the second and fourth quadrants Iespectively, While letters represented at 82 and Si! have base lines lying in ythe first and third quadrants respectively.

" T do not intend to lirnit myself to any partical results as to the degree of slope of the resulting contracted letters are not always obtained in the presence of changes in the above non-uniformltes.

However, by paying atteninto which the base line or" nterice extends, and` with a ts an operator can ...al s or cacltslant will 1lt gres the center lines of the letters ses ntaiion it appears at pres- 5 a letter, Word, or senc icction of the rubber e nd into the second or aclzsia s will result.

, ei-planation, the variation hackslant or italics and from nor- "l'orfever, by reference to Fig. 1G it will l adjustment from normal to Wide or narrow ii m upright to italics or backslant may be made s-nultaneously upon the same letter, Word., or sentence.

From 'lil lila of Figs. 9 and 10 respectively, it will seen that when the base line runs parallel to the l5-0 diameter, (the X-Y line of Fig. 9), narrowing of the base line and elongation the center line of a letter will result upon contraction of the belt. Likewise, from 'i8 and its of Figs. 9 and lo respectively it will be seen that n 'oase line runs transverse to the lilil-il" diam-eter, widening of the base line and shortening oi the center line of a letter will result.

However, within a given quadrant it appears, apart from the baclTslant-italics feature above discussed, that certain angles of the oase line gire narrowing of a letter upon contraction of the belt, While certain others result in the widening of the letter. Precisely, at what angle within each ci' the four quadrants this change from narrowing elongating to widening and shortening ci the letter takes place, appears to be variable and to he dependent upon uniformity of stretching characteristics of rubber stock, thick- .f'teristics and dimensions ness thereof, and dimensions of the belt. Here again I do not wish to be limited to any particular variations of position of the initial positive impression to give variations of the initial impression in final contracted form, since more so than in the case of obtaining backslant and italics, the final angularity of the initial impression is a function of the stretching characteristics of the belt, the thickness thereof, and the dimensions of the belt. After experimentation, however, it appears that the change from widening to narrowing of the letters occurs at about the 45 angle of each quadrant (that is, at 45, 135, 225, and 315 angles of the imaginary circles having the X--Y, X-Y lines as their O-180 diameters), and that as the angle of the base line approaches the "-2'70" diameter from the 45 .line in adjacent quadrants, widening and shortening of the letters takes place to an increasing degree, While as the base lines approach the -0 diameter from the 45 line of the adjacent quadrants, narrowing and lengthening of the letters takes place to an increasing degrec.

Since it is assumed that the initial positive impression Will be made by upright type it follows that the base line of each letter will be at an angle oi 90 to the height line thereof. Consequently in such cases as the base line is at an angle of more or less than 45 to either the 0l80 diameter or the 90-270 diameter (that is, does not lie on a 45 line of any quadranti, the angle of the center line will be the unequal complement of the angle at which the base linelies to the diameter. This being the case and the angles of a base line and its center line not being 45, each will lie at an angle unequal to the other and unequal to either the 18W-0 or: 9270 diameters. It has been found that base lines and center lines lying at different angularity to either the D-l80 or 9de-270 diameter contract different amounts, proportionate to that angle, and therefore when the center line and the base line of a given letter are at different angles to either of these diameters, the contraction of each is different with the result that the letter in question contracts a greater amount either as to its base line or width or its center line. It therefore follows that the proportion oi.' height to width of that letter is changed so that that there is either a widening or a narrowing from the normal type used.

On the other hand, if the base line of a given upright letter is at 45 to one of the said diameters, then the center line (since it lies at 90 to the base line) likewise lies at 45 thereto. From experimentation it appears that the 45 line in each of the four quadrants shortens only slightly and substantially the same amount. Consequently in the case of a letter having both base line and center line at 45 to a given diameter it will contract substantially the same amount as to both width and length of its center line. Thus, While in the case of a 45 letter there will be an equal, slight contraction in all directions to reduce the size thereof, its dimensions will not be changed in proportion, while all other letters in that quadrant each having their base line and center line lying at different degrees to either of the diameters, will be changed in proportion upon contraction of the belt. It is to be noted that while it appears that in the case of 45 letters there is merely slight contraction without change oi' proportion of center line'to width, the upright characteristics will be changed to 'means for moun'ting said elements to afford relative bodily movement therebetween and means for revolving said elements with said belt during the relative movement between said elements.

3. In a printing assembly for receiving initialvv positive printingimpressions for use in a photoengraving process, in combination, a belt of elastic material, a plurality of substantially synchronously revolvable roller elements about which said belt may |be mounted, extensible and stock used, the above concepts cannot be made deiinite for all cases. Therefore I do not wish to be limited strictly to those concepts as being the unalterable general rule. However, they may be taken as generally explanatory of the principles involved and as a general guide from which operators may make adjustments and compen-f sations for the particular stock and belt involved. From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for and a method of stretching' the rubber to avoid undesirable distortions in the contracted print; I have provided means for and a method of justifying columns for line line, letter and word length and column length and for letter center line height, without necessitating the readjustment of words and letters of the text and rephotographing and without requiring the services of an expert artist, Furthermore, I have adapted normal upright type face of a given style to use in making wide or narrow backslant or wide or narrow italics in that style,`

and have eliminated the necessity for and expense of carrying on hand type to make each of the above variations from normal upright print. In addition I have, by contracting the vinitial positive impression, intensiiied letter outline prior to the photographing of the layout, thereby reducing to a minimum the step of touching up.

It is to be understood that my invention may also be practiced by printing on the rubber in contracted condition and then stretching to obtain the described variations, the latter being the opposite in that case. However, by contracting the initial impression as above proposed, intensiflcation of outline is attained and touching up of the variations is reduced to a minimum or entirely eliminated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent. is:

l. In apparatus for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process, in combination, a stretching device, said device including a pair of expansible and contractible side elements, a pair of rollers bridging said elements between their ends, a rubber belt, said belt being mounted about said rollers for receiving initial, positive printing impressions on the surface thereof, means for rotating at least one of said rollers about its longitudinal axis, and means for expanding and contracting said side elements unicontractible means for mounting said roller elements, and means for extending and contracting said vmounting means to 'afford relative movement between said roller elements as they are revolved to progress said belt around the same.

4. In a device for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process, in-combination, a sheet ofelastic material, the surface of said sheet being adapted to receive initial, positive printing impressions thereon, members for holding said sheet along opposed edges, a mounting for the holding members, said mounting being operable to provide relative bodily movement between said opposed holding members toward and away from one another to lcontract and stretch the sheet respectively in a first, relatively longitudinal direction, means for operating said mounting to control the relative movement between the holding members, said members engaging said opposed edges of the sheet to afford relative lateral contraction and stretching of said sheet at said edges in a direction at substantially right angles to said first direction to compensate for lateral stretching and contracting tensionalforces exerted at intermediate portions of the sheet during the respective contracting and stretching of the sheet in said iirst direction.

5. In a device for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process, in combination, a primary frame, a secondary frame and a belt lof elastic material, said belt being adapted to receive initial positive printed impressions on the surface thereof, said primary frame including a pair of telescoping side elements and a pair of rollers bridging said side elements at the respective ends thereof, said rollers being revolvable relative to said frame, said belt being progressed around said rollers by the revolution of the same when mounted therearound, said secondary frame including a pair of side elements and transverse end elements, one of said transverse elements being xedly secured to saidl side elements and the other end element being secured for longitudinal movement of said side elements 'in its transverse relationship, one end of each of said telescoping side elements of said primary frame being adapted to be secured to said fixed end elements of the secondary frame and the.

other end of said telescoping side elements being adapted to be secured to said longitudinally movable end element of the 'secondary frame, and means for controlling the longitudinal movementl of said last named end element to aiiord a stretching and contraction of said belt about said rollers.

6. In a device for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process, in combination, a primary frame, a secondary frame and a belt of elastic material, the surface of said` belt being adapted to receive initial positive printed impressions on the surface thereof, said primary frame including a plurality of expansible and contractible side elements and a pluralityl of rollers, said rollers bridging said side elements in parallel relationship and being movable toward and away from one another upon contraction and expansion of said side elements respectively and being revolvable relative to said side elements, said belt being mounted around said rollers to be progressed therearound upon revolution of said rollers, said secondary frame including side elements and transverse elements bridging said side elements, said transverse elements being mounted on said side elements of said secondary frame for movement relatively tov/ard or away from one another, the ends ol. the expansible and contractible side elements of the primary frame being connected with the respective transverse element oi the secondary trame to be expanded and contracted in accordance with the relative movement between said transverse elements, and means for controlling the relative movement between said transverse elements to .expand or contract the side elements oi the primary frame and thus afford relative movement between the rollers to expand or contract the belt mounted therearound.

7. In an assembly of the class described, the combination o a primary frame, a secondary frame, a printing frame and a rubber belt adapted to receive initial positive printed impressions on one surface thereof, said primary frame including expansible and contractible side elements and transversely extending rollers mounted for rotation between the ends thereof, said belt being mounted around said rollers to be stretched or contracted by relative movement of the rollers away from toward each other in accordance with the expansion or contraction of said side elements, said secondary trarne including side elements transverse elements extending therebetrvee said transverse elements being mounted for relative movement therebetween, said expansible an contractible side elements of said primary traer .ving their respective ends c said transverse elements oi said secondary frame, means for controlling the relative movement between said transverse elements to more the same toward and away from each other to contract and expand the side elements of the primary frame and thus contract and stretch a rubber belt on the rollers, said printing frame having transverse elements adapted to bear against one side of the belt when f in stretched condition to urge it against the other side and means for locking said printing frame to said primary frame to maintain the belt surfaces together and to lock the side elements of said primary trarne in non-contractible relationship preparatory to the removal of the ends of the side elements of said primary frame from the transverse elements of said secondary frame for insertion of the primary frame with the belt and printing frame into a printing press.

The method of preparing a positive impression for use in a photoengraving process which consists of stretching a sheet of elastic material, compensatinrr the tensional stresses exerted laterally of the lines of stretch to eliminate distortion of the surface from normal configuration when in a normal unstretched condition, printing a positive impression on the stretched surface, contracting the surface to the desired degree and compensating for the tensional stresses exerted laterally oi the lines of stretch upon contracting the surface, to obtain a reproduction of the printed impression in contracted form.

9. The method of stretching and contracting the circumferential length of a belt of elastic material mounted around a plurality of roller elements, to eliminate lateral distortion thereof caused by tensional stresses exerted laterally of the line of stretch, for use in preparing a positive impression in a photoengraving process, which consists of moving the roller elements away from and toward one another and rotating the roller elements about their longitudinal axes with the belt.

10. The method of preparing italic characters from upright characters for use in a photoemgraving process, which consists oi' stretching a sheet of rubber in one direction designated as the l8fl0 diameter of a theoretical circle on the sheet, making positive printed impressions of upright characters thereon, said characters having base lines 'lying in the first or third quadrants of that circle and contracting the sheet to distort said upright characters to italic characters.

l1. The method of preparing backslant characters from upright characters for use in a photoengraving process which consists of stretchlng a sheet of rubber in one direction designated as the l-0 diameter of a theoretical circle on the sheet, nmking positive printed impressions of upright characters thereon, said characters having base lines lying in the second and fourth quadrants of that circle and contracting the sheet to distort the upright characters to backslant characters.

l2. The method of preparing narrow characters from normal characters for use in a photoengraving process which consists of stretching a sheet of rubber in one direction designated as the 18W-0 diameter of a theoretical circle on the sheet, making positive printed impressions of normal characters thereon, said characters having base lines lying at substantially 45 or less on either side ci the 18W- diameter, contracting the sheet to distort the upright characters to narrow characters.

13. The method of preparing wide characters from normal characters for use in a photoengraving process which consists of stretching a sheet of rubber at substantially right angles to a direction designated as the Slm-270 diameter of a theoretical circle on the sheet, making positivev printed impressions of normal characters thereon, said characters having base lines lying at substantially 45 or less on either side of the -270 diameter, contracting the sheet to distort the upright characters to Wide characters.

14. In a device adapted for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process, in combination, a belt of elastic material characterized by its ability to receive initial positive printed impressions on its surface, a plurality of substantially parallel rollers for receiving said belt, a mounting for supporting each of said rollers for revolution about its longitudinal axis, means for movably supporting said mountings for movement relative to one another, means for rotating said rollers about their longitudinal axes, and means for moving said mountlngs to provide relative movement of said rollers toward and away from one another.

15. A method of expanding and contracting a. sheet of elastic material which consists of forming the sheet into a belt, mounting said belt on a pair of rollers, moving said rollers away from and toward one another and revolving said rollers with said belt.

16. In a device for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process or the like, in comof said sheet being adapted to receive positive printing impressions thereon, members for holdu ing said sheet along opposed edges, a mounting structure for said members. means for controlling saidfmembers to cause relative movement therebetween, each said opposed edge of the sheet engaging the respective holding member for transverse movement relative thereto where engagement occurs between said edges and said holding members, said edges being adapted to stretch and contract in a direction parallel with said holding members where said engagement occurs to compensate for longitudinal stretching and contracting forces during the respective contracting and stretching of the sheet during movement of said holding members,

17. In a device for preparing printing plates by a photoengraving process or the like, yieldable means for receiving positive printing inipressions on the surface thereof, said means including a sheet of elastic material, means for mounting said sheet to afford stretching and contracting thereof and including sheet supports as-y sociated with said mounting means for supporting said sheet along opposed edges against movement along the line of stretch and contraction relative to the respective support and for lateral movement relative thereto, said supports being arranged with said mounting means for movement toward and away from one another to afford stretching and contracting ofsaid sheet.

` s. Dai/ORE CHAINE. 

